Back in June, one name that flew under the radar for Chippewa fans was DE/TE Alex Coty from South Bend (Ind.) Clay. One reason his commitment was overlooked was because he came as part of the "Maroon Tsunami", a week in June that also saw commitments from RB Derrick Nash, DT Don Kyre and OT Jack Ford. Another reason? Not much was known about Coty, as he missed a portion of his junior season with an broken, and then tore his ACL before his senior season.

Regardless, the 6-foot-5 and 265 pound Coty is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2013 class, and the Chippewas were wise to make a move quickly. Before his commitment, he also had offers from Ball State, Indiana State and Grand Valley State, but ultimately chose to make Mount Pleasant his new home.

"I chose CMU because when I visited the college, it was just a great experience and they seem like a program on the rise," added Coty. "The coaches and players all seemed really personable, and CMU had everything I was looking for. The campus was pretty big, and I'm excited about the new medical school because I want to major in Physical Therapy. Nick Beamish was my host and I kind of hit it off with Jack Ford on my visit. But I was just introduced to a lot of the guys, and we went to the O-line house over at Jake Olson's, so that was really cool."

Coty didn't start playing football until the 8th grade, and he is still raw in many aspects. As a sophomore, he caught 22 passes for 423 yards and five touchdowns while also playing end on the defensive side of the football. Since that point, he has not had a lot of time to display his skills on the field due to the injuries. But CMU saw enough potential during a private workout to offer Coty, although his future with the Chippewas will be at a different position.

"The coaches see me somewhere on the offensive line," said Coty. "Probably guard or tackle, more likely as a tackle. As a TE, one thing that stood out to them was my quickness, and they want guys that are fast on the offensive line."

Moving from tight end to offensive tackle has been a pretty successful venture for Central Michigan. One former player who made the move is currently projected as a Top 20 pick in this coming April's NFL Draft, and Eric Fisher's path did not go unnoticed by Coty.

"It's pretty encouraging to see that. He was also a tight end when he arrived at Central Michigan, and it definitely opens your eyes about the potential you can have."

Joining Coty at CMU will be teammate Wesley Thomas, a three star receiver who selected the Chippewas a few months ago. It's a unique situation for the pair from Indiana, but it brings a level of familiarity.

"We have a pretty good relationship, and it's cool to have someone you know making the same journey," said Coty on Thomas joining him at CMU. "It's a good thing, and we have both talked about it a lot."

Time will tell whether the Chippewas unearthed another gem, because there is still a major unknown with Coty. He is ahead of schedule with his injury and will be ready for camp, but a redshirt is almost certain for a player who has missed as much time as he has.

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